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From dip-dyes to decorative plaits, wispy chignons to pretty accessories, this season’s biggest hair trends are becoming increasingly ornamental. And it’s thanks to these fiddly creations that the standard parting suddenly seems a little on the unadventurous side. But thankfully, the catwalk has that covered, and the spring/summer 12 shows put the small divide back into focus with anything simple or straightforward rendered officially passé.

Double-partings are among the most popular ways of reinventing roots. London Fashion Week designer duo Peter Pilotto paired their scuba-chic collection with a neat, parallel hair parting either side of the forehead with a tight skull plait in the centre, completed with wet-look sheen.

Both Yohji Yamamoto and David Koma embraced an exaggerated version of one of the most distinctive types of natural hair formation — the widow’s peak. With hair split into a V-shape at the front of the hairline, Yamamoto’s S/S12 double partings were teamed with sculptural head pieces of heavily textured buns and rolls, while the looks at Koma took on a heavily geometric style with eight different sections equalling four partings. Hairstylist Kenna, working for GHD, created the look by dividing the hair into symmetrical sections, before binding lengths into baby ponytails and connecting the sections at the back of the hair in the centre.

Championing the look at more than one show, Kenna was also responsible for the looks at Maria Grachvogel, who embraced this season’s trend with a zigzag parting. Teamed with fluorescent yellow eyeshadow and magenta lipstick, the model’s hair was parted asymmetrically to the top of the head, where it joined a severe horizontal line down to the ears.

So what does the future hold for the humble parting? Gareth Pugh continued the trend for the widow’s peak in his autumn/winter show, with slick V-partings taped down with monochrome and clear PVC strips, while Jean Paul Gaultier upped the ante for next season by featuring severe centre partings spray-painted in shades of electric blue, tangerine, white and neon pink. Hairstylist Guido Palau ironed hair slick and straight before blasting the roots with colour to match the graffiti print which featured on tuxedo jackets and skirts.